Penn State-Temple: Nittany Lions Roll Owls, Remain BCS Title Contenders

Penn State blew past Temple on Saturday, winning 31-6. They did look sloppy at times, causing many fans to wonder if the team will be ready for Iowa this Saturday. Overall, the good outweighs the bad, but there is still cause for concern.

While the line looked better, they still don’t seem to be anywhere near as dominant as the line was last year. The pass protection left a lot to be desired, as Daryll Clark took several big hits and was pressured more than expected.

Clark himself did not look sharp. Although his stats were good, he was off target more than usual.

The secondary seemed shaky and allowed 205 passing yards. This total could have been worse had it not been for some poorly thrown or dropped passes by Temple and another dominant performance from the front seven on defense.

Penn State was unhappy with the special teams play. They allowed Temple to recover a surprise onside kick and allowed an average of 35 yards per kick return.

One reason for the team’s sloppy play may have been illness. Joe Paterno said about 15 or 16 players had flu-like symptoms this past week. Five or six of those players had fevers at some point. Many of those players were at less than 100 percent during the game and also missed significant practice time during the week.

For the first time this season, the run game was effective. Evan Royster ran for 134 yards, including 119 in the first half. The team was consistent, averaging 5.2 yards per carry.

The offensive line did a much better job in run blocking. A reason for this may have been a change at left guard. Sophomore Johnnie Troutman had his first start of the season and seemed to help in the run game.

Troutman may be Penn State’s strongest player as his maximum bench press is around 430 pounds. If he can maximize his potential this season, it may provide the offensive line with a huge boost, especially in the run game.   

Andrew Quarless played well and showed that he can be a solid go-to guy and playmaker. He is very athletic and has the ability to gain yards after the catch.

The defensive line was dominant once again. It may be one of the best in the country. The linebackers were also impressive as they roamed and made plays against the run and pass all game. Once Navorro Bowman returns from injury, Penn State will have one of the best groups of linebackers in the country.

While the team has left something to be desired in the first three games, they have still been good enough to be seen as a national title contender, at least for now. The receivers have shown potential, and the backfield is loaded with talent. The offensive line showed a lot of improvement and should get stronger as the season progresses and they gain experience.

The defensive front seven can stack up against any in the country. The secondary is still a concern, but they should benefit from the front seven’s strength and will most likely get better as they gain experience.

With all of the talent on the field, and with a coaching staff that has shown a propensity for developing such talent, I expect the team to show great improvements as the year goes on.

Next week will be the first true test for the Lions and will teach us all a lot about the team. Based on what we’ve seen so far, I’m expecting them to win and to stay in contention for a championship.